Community Missions Executive Director Robyn L. Krueger and Director of Communication Christian Hoffman joined with a group of officials from the Republic of Korea.

Officials from Republic of Korea government in attendance

Twenty officials from the Republic of Korea's Ministry of Health & Welfare spent a portion of Tuesday morning at Community Missions' Buffalo Avenue offices. The group sought to look at different approaches to homeless services, as it is reviewing its current programs and management, and looking for new strategies to implement.

This delegation is visiting several sites on an international trip, collecting information and learning of different approaches.

"We gave an overview of the agency and then we focused primarily on our crisis and community services, which is the homeless shelter, the food pantry, Community Kitchen, our Clothes Closet and rapid rehousing program," she explained. "Then, once we explained how we did, where our funding comes from, what the criteria is for people to be in the programs, then we took questions from the audience.

"They were a mixture of individuals from various ministries in South Korea - ministries meaning departments, not religious ministries - and individuals were from disability fields, female ministry, also housing, social services, public welfare and general administration/health and human services."

Kruger said the group was interested in how the Niagara Falls agency interacts with the local community.

In 2017, Community Missions provided 12,045 nights of shelter, 109,727 meals and clothing for 6,920 individuals. It also provided care days in youth (2,179), recovery (44,719) and housing services (70,145). For more information, visit www.communitymissions.org.